As the weather turned pleasant in the provincial capital, prices of dry fruits have started to go up.
A random survey conducted by this scribe of various city markets revealed that shopkeepers and fruit vendors were charging inflated rates for dry fruits.
A dry fruit shop owner at Chouburji Chowk said that people buy dry fruits mostly in the winter season which increases their demand.
Azam Khan, a vendor in Akbari Mandi, said that they themselves got these fruits at high rates from wholesalers. He added that prices were high due to floods which washed away the crops.
On the other hand, buyers complained that prices of dry fruits this year were high and becoming out of their reach.
“It seems dry fruits is now meant for the haves only,” said a housewife.
The prices this year are as follows: almonds Rs 800-1,600 per kilo, walnuts Rs 400- 700 per kilo, pistachios Rs 1,200-2,000 per kilo, peanuts Rs 250-300 per kilo, cashew nuts Rs 1,200-1,450 per kilo, while pine nuts were observed to be selling for anywhere between Rs 2,500 to 2,800 per kilo.
Last year, the items were being sold at significantly lower rates. Almonds were being sold between Rs 600 and 800 per kg, walnuts between Rs 400 and 500 per kg, pistachios between Rs 800 and 1000 per kg, peanuts between Rs 200 and 300 per kg, cashew nuts between Rs 800 and 900 per kg while pine nuts were being sold between Rs 1,100 and 1,300 per kg.
